Cutting apparatus



p 24, 1.963 T. P. REDDING ETAL 3,402,628

CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORY THOMAS RREDDING DONALD W. TATES BY wit QQAQ 6.4 Lia A TTORNEV P ,1 T. P. REDDING ETAL 3,402,628

CUTT ING APPARATUS Filed Oct. L1, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS THOMAS P. REDDING DONALD .TATES J A TTORNE Y Sept; 1968 T. P. REDDING ETAL 3,402,628

CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J I T A m i ,5

INVENTORS THOMAS P. REDDING DON LD .TATES BY 45 Q2 p 24, 1968 T. P. REDDING ETAL 3,402,628

CUTTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 11, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS THOMAS P. REDDING NALD TATES A TTORNEY United States Patent CUTTING APPARATUS Thomas P. Redding, Penfield, and Donald W. Tates, Fairport, N.Y., assignors to Xerox Corporation, Rochester,

N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 535,835

3 Claims. (Cl. 83434) This invention relates to a cutting mechanism, and more particularly, to apparatus for either slitting or perforating sheet material supplied at a rapid rate interchangeably at the option of the machine operator.

In the art of reproduction, it is often desirable to treat the copy sheet as by slitting or perforating. For example, when producing multiple copies from a master one-half the size of the copy sheet, two masters placed side-by-side may be exposed simultaneously and the copy sheet slit in halves to produce twice the number of copies than if only a single master was utilized. By perforating the copy sheet it remains intact for separation at a later time.

With the current demand for reproduction machines to perform varied functions at high rates, there has arisen a concomitant need for a copy sheet cutting mechanism that can both slit and perforate the sheets in halves, quarters, etc., at the option of the machine operator. On the other hand the cutting mechanism would have to be disabled in a rapid and simple manner when the copy sheet was not to be treated so as not to interrupt the smoothness of machine operation.

The existing cutting mechanism employ rotary slitter knives or razor blades in abutting relation with a backing member positioned in the sheet path to divide the sheet into narrower sheets or strips described, for example, in US. Patent 3,182,541. Normally these devices are accurately fixed in place in predetermined relation with the sheet path. Tolerances allowed are quite small as too much pressure dulls the cutter and too little pressure results in frequent misses. Therefore, to move the cutting devices into and out of contact with the sheet material can only be accomplished by painstaking and time consuming adjustments. Moreover, the pressure of these devices with the backing roller is rarely the same due to the different settings by each machine operator. As a result the cutting devices are subjected to abnormal wear often necessitating their frequent replacement. Thus, although the existing devices are satisfactory for some uses they are not especially adapted for incorporation with high speed reproduction machines because of their complexity of design, need for highly skilled operating personnel, and, above all, frequent replacement.

The paper cutting mechanism of the present invention eliminates all of the above-noted disadvantages. By this invention it is possible to place the cutting implement into a predetermined operative relation with the backing roller simply and rapidly. Also there is a built-in design to permit interchangeability of cutting implements in a matter of seconds without sacrificing accuracy in the cutting tolerances.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide improved sheet cutting apparatus adapted for use with high speed reproduction machines.

It is also an object of this invention to reduce the wear on cutting implements used for slitting or perforating sheet material.

It is a further object of this invention to eliminate human error in presetting a cutting mechanism to slit or perforate sheet material.

It is another object of this invention to permit interchangeability of different cutting implements in a sheet cutting mechanism in a rapid and simple manner.

It is another object of this invention to obviate complex and expensive mechanisms for slitting and/or perforating sheet material.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a preferred embodiment for a reproduction machine incorporating a sheet cutting mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the sheet cutting mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left-hand end view of the sheet cutting mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a cutting unit;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the cutting unit taken along lines 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the cutting unit illustrating the cutting assembly in the operative position;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the cutting unit in the retracted position;

FIG. 8 shows the cutting assembly when disassembled from the cutting unit; and

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the cutting unit.

In FIGURE 1 there is shown schematically a preferred high speed automatic xerographic reproduction machine incorporating a cutting mechanism generally designated 10 according to the present invention.

The automatic xerographic reproducing apparatus, described more fully in US. Patent 3,221,622, comprises a xerographic plate 20 including a photoconductive layer or light-receiving surface on a conductive backing and formed in the shape of a drum, which is mounted on a shaft journaled in a frame to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow to cause the drum surface sequentially to pass a plurality of xerographic processing stations.

For the purpose of the present disclosure, the several xerographic processing stations in the path of movement of the drum surface may be described functionally, as follows:

A charging station at which a uniform electrostatic charge is deposited on the photoconductive layer of the Xerographic drum;

An exposure station at which a light or radiation pattern of copy to be reproduced is projected onto the drum surface to dissipate the drum charge in the exposed areas thereof and thereby form a latent electrostatic image of the copy to be reproduced.

A developing station at which a xerographic developing material including toner particles having an electrostatic charge opposite to that of the electrostatic latent image are cascaded over the drum surface, whereby the toner particles adhere to the electrostatic latent image to form a xerographic powder image in the configuration of the copy being reproduced;

A transfer station at which the xerographic powder image is electrostatically transferred from the drum surface to a transfer material or support surface; and

A drum cleaning and discharge station at which the drum surface is brushed to remove residual toner particles remaining thereon after image transfer, and at which the drum surface is exposed to a relatively bright light source to effect substantially complete discharge of any residual electrostatic charge remaining thereon.

The charging station is preferably located, as indicated by reference character A. As shown, the charging arrangement includes a corona charging device 21 which includes a corona discharge array of one or more corona discharge electrodes that extend transversely across the drum surface and are energized from a high potential source and are substantially closed within a shielding member.

Next subsequent thereto in the path of motion of the xerographic drum is an exposure station B. An optical scanning or projection system is provided to project a flowing image onto the surface of the photoconductive drum from a stationary original.

The optical scanning or projection assembly comprises a stationary copyboard which consists of a transparent curved platen member 22 such as, for example, a glass plate or the like, positioned on the exterior of the cabinet, which is adapted to support a document to be reproduced, the document being uniformly illuminated and arranged in light projecting relation to the moving light-receiving surface of the xerographic drum. Uniform lighting is provided by banks of lamps LMPS arranged on opposite sides of the copy-board. Scanning of the document on the stationary copyboard is accomplished by means of a mirror assembly which is oscillated relative to the copyboard in timed relation to the movement of the xerographic drum.

The mirror assembly, which includes an object mirror 23, is mounted below the copyholder to reflect an image of the document through a lens 24 onto an image mirror 25 which, in turn, reflects the image onto the xerographic drum through a xerographic drum surface.

Adjacent to the exposure station is a developing station C in which there is positioned a developer apparatus including a casing or housing having a lower or Sump portion for accumulating developer material. A bucket type conveyor (not shown) is used to carry the developing material to the upper part of the developer housing where it is cascaded over a hopper chute onto the xerographic drum to effect development.

Positioned next and adjacent to the developing station is the image transfer station D which includes a sheet feeding arrangement adapted to feed sheets of support material, such as paper or the like, successively to the xerographic drum in coordination with the presentation of the developed image on the drum surface at the transfer station.

The sheet feeding mechanism includes a sheet feed device adapted by means of vacuum feeders to feed the top sheet, of a stack of sheets to rollers 42 cooperating with the belts of paper transport 44 for advancing the sheet sufliciently to be held by paper transport 44 which in turn, conveys the sheet to a sheet registration device 45 positioned adjacent to the xerographic drum. The sheet registration device arrests and aligns each individual sheet of material and then in timed relation to the movement of the xerographic drum, advances the sheet material into contact with the xerographic drum in registration with a previously formed xerographic powder image on the drum.

The transfer of the xerographic powder image from the drum surface to the sheets of support material is effected by means of a corona transfer device 51 that is located at or immediately after the line of contact between the support material and the rotating drum. In operation, the electrostatic field created by the corona transfer device is effective to tack the support material electrostatically to the drum surface, whereby the support material moves synchronously with the drum while in contact therewith. Simultaneously with the tacking action, the electrostatic field is effective to attract the toner particles comprising the xerographic powder image from the drum surface and cause them to adhere electrostatically to the surface of the support material.

Immediately subsequent to the image transfer station, there is positioned a stripping aparatus to paper pick-off mechanism 52 for removing the sheets of support material from the drum surface. This device, which is of the type disclosed in Rutkus et al. US. Patent 3,062,536, includes a plurality of small diameter orifices supplied with pressurized aeriform fluid by a suitable pulsator or other device. The pulsator is adapted to force jets of pressurize-d aeriform fluid through the outlet orifices into contact with the surface of the xerographic drum slightly in advance of the sheet of support material to strip the leading edge of the sheet from the drum surface and to direct it onto an endless conveyor 55 whereby the sheet material is carried to a fixing device 60. At the fixing device, the transferred xerographic powder image on the sheet of support material is permanently fixed or fused thereto as 'by heat. After fusing, the sheet material is discharged from the apparatus at a suitable point for collection externally of the apparatus by means of the conveyor 65.

In accordance with the present invention, the sheet material is guided from conveyor 65 by a battle plate 68 into sheet cutting mechanism 10, to be described, which advances the material into a receiving tray 70.

The next and final station in the device is a drum cleaning sfation E, having positioned therein a corona preclean device 76, a drum cleaning device adapted to remove any powder remaining on the xerographic drum after transfer by means of a rotating brush 81, and a discharge lamp 83 adapted to flood the xerographic drum with light to cause dissipation of any residual electrical charge remaining on the xerographic drum.

It is believed that the foregoing description is suflicient for the purposes of this application to show the general operation of a xerographic reproducing apparatus incorporating a sheet cutting mechanism in accordance with the invention. Fur further details concerning the specific construction of the xerographic apparatus shown, reference is made to US. Patent 3,221,622.

Referring now to FIGURES 2-9 there is shown details of the cutting mechanism 10 according to the present invention. Copy sheet is received from conveyor 65 by the cutting mechanism 10 after passing over a corotron charging device similar to that described above to remove any static charge thereon. Cutting mechanism 10 has a frame generally designated comprising a pair of spaced parallel end plates 161 and 163 which are fixed to the main framework of the machine adjacent the receiving tray 70. A pair of tie-rods and 172 connect the end plates to form a rigid framework. Spanning tie-rods 170 and 172 and supported thereby are one or more cutting units 175. Disposed below tie-rods 170172 and in pressure contact with the cutting units 175 when they are in operative position is a backing roller which is rotatably supported by end plates 161 and 163. Backing roller 180 comprises a core member 181 made of suitable metal, such as steel, covered with a suitable elastomeric layer 183. The nip formed by the roller 180 and the cutter units 175 serves to advance a sheet into the receiving tray 70 while treating the sheet as will become more apparent.

To advance the copy sheet a drive mechanism generally designated comprises a motor 191 mounted on a support bracket 193. Motor 191 drives a sprocket 195 about which is looped a chain 197 that is also looped about a drive sprocket 198 mounted for rotation with backing roller 180. To keep the slack out of the chain 197 an idler sprocket 199 journaled in end plate 163 is urged in pressure contact with the chain by a spring 201 which is connected at one end to a pin 203 mounted in end plate 163 and at the other end to an extension of idler sprocket 199 whereby the chain loop is keep taut providing a smooth driving operation of backing roller 180 to advance the copy sheet.

As best shown in FIGURES 4-9, cutting units 175 comprise an elongated support member 220 from which is suspended in tandem a cutter assembly 225 and a pinch roller assembly 230. Support member 220 has a recess 231 formed in one end for engaging tie-rod 172 and a bushing. 233 for receiving tie-rod 170. A thumb screw 235 is threadingly received through the bushing 233 to engage a flattened surface 237 on tie-rod 170 (See FIGv 6) whereby the cutter units may be slidably adjusted transverse to the path of the copy sheet as determined by the machine. operator.

Extending from the bottom portion on the support member 220 are a pair of laterally extending pins 240 and 242 (see FIG. 4) from which cutter assembly 225 and pinch roller assembly 230 are suspended, respectively. Cutter assembly 225 and pinch roller assembly 236 are essentially thesame and differ only by the construction of the member rotatably supported at the bottom portion of each assembly. Therefore, only the cutterassembly will be discussedrin detail, it being clearly understood that the two assemblies are interchangeable on the cutting unit 175 and have exactly the same principles of operation.

Cutter assembly 225 comprises an arm 250 having an opening 251 formed therein for receiving pin 240 on which the assembly is pivotably supported. Arm 250 has a recess 252 formed therein to fit around tie-rod 172 and on the surface opposite thereto has a raised shoulder portion 253 which serves as a camming surface for a purpose to be described.

Formed at the lower extremity of arm 250 is a hollowed bushing 255 through which is received a pin 258 fastened in the bushing by a retaining ring 259. Also disposed inside of bushing 255 coaxially aligned with pin 258 is a coil spring 260 which extends between the head on pin 258 and a rib portion 265 of the bushing when in its prestressed condition. It should be noted that the head of pin 258 has a crown or peak portion 267 which serves as a camming surface for compressing spring 260.

At the lowest extremity of arm 250 is a cutting implement 277 that is rotatably journaled on a screw 278 secured in place by a lock nut 279. In the embodiment illustrated cutting implement 277 is a slitter wheel. It should be understood, however, that a perforator wheel could be used instead. The construction of the pinch roller assembly 230 is essentially the same as that already described for the cutter assembly except that a pinch roller 290 made from any suitable material is substituted in place of cutting implement 272.

It should be noted that the cutter assembly 225 and pinch roller assembly 230 are adapted to slip off from their supporting pivot pins 240 and 242 as best shown in FIG. 8. To preclude this from happening when the cutting unit is in the operative position, a bridge portion 280 on support member 220 having downwardly extending wall portions 281 and 282 abut against the arm 250. To remove either of assemblies 225 and 230 it is merely necessary to pivot them about pins 240 and 242 until they are free of walls 281 and 282, respectively. Now they can be moved laterally until free of their supporting pins.

Thumb screws 290 threadingly received in support member 220 pivotally support a pair of locking cams 295 which serve to move cutter assembly 225 and pinch roll assembly 230 into operative relation with backing roller 180. Each of locking cams 295 at its lowest extremity has a bifurcated camming surface 297 for positive engagement with crown portion 267 on pin 258 or alternatively shoulder portion 253 on arm 250 depending upon the position of the locking cam.

In operation each of locking cams 195 is arranged to engage pin 258 when in the nearly vertical position thereby compressing spring 260 to exert a predetermined force on the backing roller 180. To allow for machine tolerances as well as safeguard against too deep 9. cut a set screw 301 is threadingly received in support member 220 to serve as a stop for arm 250. Thus there is at all times a predetermined pressure or depth of cut exerted by the cutting unit 175 on backing roller 180. This enables uniform cutting by the cutting implement 277 and prevents skewing of the implement relative to the copy sheet path thereby significantly reducing the wear on the cutting implement. Moreover, the cutting implement is instantly retractable upon pivoting locking cam 295 in the clockwise direction so that camming surface 297 engages shoulder portion 253 on arm 250.

It is to be understood that the number of cutting units utilized can be varied depending upon the spacing of cuts and that the pinch roller assemblies can be used Without the cutting assemblies as shownin FIG. 2. The pinch roller assemblies are selectively spaced transverse to the path of the sheet material to prevent buckling of the material thereby permitting an accurate cut to be made. w

Above'is described a cutting mechanism by which shee material can be slit or perforated as desired at theoption of the machineoperator both simply and rapidly. Heretofore, these:cutting operations involved mechanisms that necessitated time consumingand painstaking adjustments. N ow in accordance with the invention cutting can be accomplishedwith relative ease. Moreover, the pressure exerted by the cutting implementcan be predetermined to achieve a uniform depth of cut with a minimum of wear on the cutting knife or blade. Further it is possible to utilize different types of cutting implements which can be snappedin and out of place in seconds without interrupting the movement of the sheet material to be treated.

Since many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made Without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the drawings and specification shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for cutting sheet material moving rapidly along a path of travel comprising a frame,

support means mounted on said frame and adapted for movement transverse to the path of the sheet material,

a backing roller having a resilient covering therearound rotatably supported on said frame and adapted to advance a sheet of material urged into pressure contact therewith,

cutting means pivotally mounted on said support means to move from a first position abutting against said backing roller with a predetermined pressure to a second position spaced therefrom,

said cutting means including an arm portion having a coil spring mounted thereon and a pin member coaxially received by said coil spring and operative to exert a compression force thereon,

said arm portion having a raised shoulder portion formed therein adjacent said coil spring,

cam means pivotally mounted on said support means and movable from a first position in abutting relation with said pin member to compress said coil spring to urge said cutting means into predetermined pressure contact with said backing roller to a second position releasing said coil spring from compression and engaging said shoulder portion on said arm por tion to retract said cutting means out of contact with said backing roller.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means includes a bridge portion having vertical extending wall portions, said wall portions extending in abutting relation with the top of said arm portion when said cutting means are in contact with said pressure roller but terminating above said arm portion when said cutting means is pivoted sufliciently away from said backing roller whereby said cutting means can be readily detached from said support means.

3. Cutting apparatus comprising a frame having parallel spaced apart and plates connected by a pair of parallel spaced apart elongated rod members,

support means extending between said rod members and including an enclosed housing portion to receive a one of said rods and a partially enclosed portion to receive the other said rod, said enclosed housing portion containing a screw member threadingly received therein and adjustable to engage said rod member received within said housing portion to position said support means along the length of said rod members,

a backing roller having an elastomeric covering therearound rotatably supported at a location spaced from said support means,

cutting means pivotally mounted on said support means and movable from a first position abutting against said backing roller with a predetermined pressure to a second position spaced therefrom,

said cutting means including an arm portion having a coil spring mounted therein and a pin member coaxially received by said coil spring and operative to exert a compressive force thereon,

said arm portion having a raised shoulder portion formed therein adjacent said coil spring,

cam means pivotally mounted on said support means and movable from a first position in abutting relation with said pin member to compress said coil spring to urge said cutting means into predetermined pressure contact with said backing roller to a second References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1963 Bulk 83564 X 8/1965 Heilbrunn 83505 X 20 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR CUTTING SHEET MATERIAL MOVING RAPIDLY ALONG A PATH FOR TRAVEL COMPRISING A FRAME. SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TO THE PATH OF THE SHEET MATERIAL, A BACKING ROLLER HAVING A RESILIENT COVERING THEREAROUND ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID FRAME AND ADAPTED TO ADVANCE A SHEET OF MATERIAL URGED INTO PRESSURE CONTACT THEREWITH, CUTTING MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO MOVE FROM A FIRST POSITION ABUTTING AGAINST SAID BACKING ROLLER WITH A PREDETERMINED PRESSURE TO A SECOND POSITION SPACED THEREFROM, SAID CUTTING MEANS INCLUDING AN ARM PORTION HAVING A COIL SPRING MOUNTED THEREON AND A PIN MEMBER COAXIALLY RECEIVED BY SAID COIL SPRING AND OPERATIVE TO EXERT A COMPRESSION FORCE THEREON, 